MLB
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The former Red Sox pitcher says Boston needs so as to add “another veteran presence” to compete for the World Series
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Red Sox pitcher and top free agent spotted together at World Series Game 1
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Freddie Freeman scored first game-winning Grand Slam in World Series history with two outs within the tenth inning that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees in a dramatic opening game Friday night.
Hampered by a badly sprained ankle, Freeman hit a house run on the primary pitch he saw – an inside fastball from Nestor Cortes – and raised his bat before starting his trot because the sellout crowd of 52,394 cheered.
It was paying homage to Kirk Gibson's game-winning home run that lifted Los Angeles over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium – one of the crucial famous swings in baseball history.
Gibson, sidelined with a leg injury, got here off the bench and scored against Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley.
Freeman, who missed three games within the National League playoffs with a right ankle injury, had not had an extra-base hit this postseason until he drained a triple on Friday.
“It actually felt pretty good,” Freeman said. “The last six days we treated it really well. I felt pretty good. When I ran out to high-five my teammates, I felt pretty good because it was the first time I had run this week. So, the ankle is fine.”
After the house run, Freeman ran to his father.
“I just screamed in his face. I’m sorry, Dad,” Freeman said, laughing. “He's been there since I was a little boy and gave me batting practice every day. So this is a moment, it’s my father’s moment.”
In this much-hyped, star-studded World Series between two of baseball's most storied and successful franchises, Game 1 actually delivered. It was the third straight opener to feature extra innings.
In the highest of the tenth, Anthony Volpe singled on a fielder's alternative to shortstop and scored Jazz Chisholm Jr. from third after stealing two bases, giving the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
The fast Chisholm beat Blake Treinen after which secured second place. After an intentional walk to Anthony Rizzo, Chisholm took third base unchallenged while Treinen was slow on the plate and Max Muncy played deep at third base.
Tommy Edman made a diving stop to left on Volpe's grounder, but initially couldn't get it out of his glove. He threw to second to pick Rizzo as Chisholm got here home with the go-ahead shot.
But the Dodgers weren't done yet.
Gavin Lux singled off Jake Cousins with one out in the underside of the tenth and grounded out to second on Edman's infield single to second. Defensive substitute Oswaldo Cabrera threw the ball to the bottom along with his glove, but it surely ended up within the outfield.
That brought up star hitter Shohei Ohtani, a left-handed hitter. Yankees manager Aaron Boone again went to his bullpen for Cortes, a lefty starter who hadn't pitched since September 18 due to an elbow injury.
After missing the AL playoffs, Cortes was added to the World Series roster on Friday.
Left fielder Alex Verdugo made a running catch in foul territory, retiring Ohtani. Verdugo's momentum dropped him over the low retaining wall, advancing each runners one base because it was a dead ball by rule when Verdugo landed within the stands.
image credit : www.boston.com